In 1994, young Dave Grohl's world spun out of its axis. Previously a drummer for a gargantuan, Seattle-based band, the group fell apart after the tragic death of its lead singer. You know the one.

Rumors started flying. Grohl was going to join Pearl Jam. Grohl was going to join Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (that one almost came true). Instead, the drummer did what few drummers do: He struck off on his own. There were dozens of songs he had stacked up over the years. So Grohl recorded a demo, playing most of the instruments, and doing most of the vocals himself.

But he needed an alias. Grohl didn't want everyone knowing and prejudging the drummer from that band. He also wanted people to think it was a proper band, not just one guy. At the time, Grohl was reading numerous books on UFOs, and one name popped out: Foo Fighters, a World War II-era term for UFOs.

On July 4, 1995, he released the band's first album: the self-titled Foo Fighters.

On Saturday, the Foo Fighters were in their groove, comfortably on top of the modern rock world — somewhere between your dad's favorite band and your 18-year-old cousin's favorite band. They've hit the sweet spot, and they're here to celebrate, taking over the RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. for a Fourth of July extravaganza.

The lineup may have seemed random, but it wasn't. Before the Foo Fighters took the stage, a clip from Sonic Highways, Grohl's HBO music docuseries on the sound of different cities, played on two giant screens. We see Trombone Shorty talk about the sound of New Orleans, Clark on the influence of Austin, Trouble Funk on the go-go sound of D.C.

Everything about this particular Foo Fighters show felt like a tribute to legacy. You got the feeling that Grohl is wondering what the Foo Fighters name, as well as his own, will mean in 25 years, in 50 years. Throughout the show, he asked audience members how they would feel about doing this next year, every year. The wheels turned in Grohl's mind.

For a diehard Foo Fighters fan, Saturday's show will go down in band lore. It's the first one Grohl has been able to play since breaking his leg in June while performing in Sweden. On Saturday, he sat in a massive, motorized throne that lit up, and pulled him up and down a catwalk. Grohl joked that he designed it when he was "high as a kite," and that he came up with the idea after taking "a couple of Oxys."

"Don't touch that sh*t," he warned.

Is there a rock star alive who loves banter and chatting in between songs as much as Grohl? He's constantly joking and dropping expletives. He's always ready to tease, at one point asking audience members if this was their first Foo Fighters show.

"The f*ck you been waiting for?" he demanded of all the raised hands. "You waited 20 years!"

Throughout Saturday's show, there was so much energy, head-banging and sweat that you almost — almost — forgot that Grohl was confined to a chair for nearly two hours. This is how Grohl has become the face of American hard rock; his showmanship cannot be dampened — not even with a broken leg. But it's also a testament to the Foo Fighters as a whole, to Pat Smear's ever-present snarl, to Taylor Hawkin's toothy grimace and wild blond hair.

Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins

Image: Lili Sams/Mashable

From the opening notes of "Everlong" to the quick riffs of "Monkey Wrench" and fan favorite "Learn to Fly," Saturday's show was essentially an onslaught of rock 'n' roll. And it was loud, the stadium set up to blast every song and every Grohlian screech up to 11.

The Foo Fighters performed fairly seamlessly, as they should after two decades together. And each song, from "The Pretender" to "Congregation," created a massive wall of sound. Other moments, meanwhile, were scaled down, such as an acoustic version of "My Hero," which saw Grohl hobble down the catwalk in crutches.

Pat Smear

Image: Lili Sams/Mashable

That then turned into a soft version of "Times Like These," whose lyrics speak of hope in times of trouble. Grohl said he loves this song so much, that he wants to play it again, and have everyone really listen to its lyrics.

"Words to live by: It could be worse!" Grohl shouted. "Right now, it's not so bad."

The musician later brought out his mother Virginia, and dedicated the song "For All the Cows" to her.

A Foo Fighters show is essentially a rock marathon that requires endurance, a buoyant spirit and a strong set of eardrums.

"We don't do that encore bullsh*t," Grohl roared. "We just play until we can't play anymore."

It all ended with "Best of You." The 2005 hit was a behemoth set-closer, refashioned and stretched out, featuring an interlude that had Grohl rolling down to the middle of the catwalk, and leading the crowd in a spirited singalong.

Fireworks lit up the sky, as the Foo Fighters left the stage, triumphant. Saturday's show was one for the books.

And if we're lucky, maybe Grohl will have his way. Maybe the band will do it all over again next year.

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